Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



MORGENST'ERN -& MORWITZ.

, Breach-Loading Fire-Arm. .No 40,572

Patented N ov. l0, 1863.

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or primer.

llnifrs IMPROVEMENT IN BREECHLOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. L0n572, dated November l0, 1863.

.To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, WILLIAM MORGEN- sTERN and EDWARD MORWITZ, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Guns; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specication, in which- Figure l represents a longitudinal section A represents in section'a portion of the stock, i

and B, in similar section, a portion of the barrel, said barrel being open at its rear to receive the cartridge when the breech-block C is run back for that purpose. The breechblock C is made partially hollow, as at a, and partially solid, as at b, and has upon its front end a projection, c, that enters and neatly fits the bore of the gun. The shoulder d of the projection c is undercut, and the end of the barrel beveled off so as to form a dovetailed joint with said undercut shoulder. The front end of the projection c has a chamber, e, formed in its end large enough to receive the cap or primer f on the cartridge E,and there is also an opening made in its, lower side, extending up to the chamber e, for the needle or hammer g to work through to explode said cap From the under side of the solid portion b of the breech-block there is an opening made, into which the bolt D shoots when the trigger is pulled to lock the breech-block to the barrel before the discharge takes place.

The breech-block C has a sliding motion to and from the rear end of the barrel, as follows: A stud, 7L, is fastened to the lock and barrelframe F, and has upon it a circular head, z',

that nearly fills the bore or hollow of the.

breech-block. A stem, G, having a head, j, upon it, by which it may be seized to draw back or push forward the breech-block, is

fastened to the breech-block at 7c, and passes through the head z', which steadies and guides it, and a cut-away portion on the under side of the breech-block straddles the neck of the stud hf, thus allowing the block to freely move on the frame, while it is firmly held thereto.

lis a spring-catch for holding thebreechblock in place when run up to the barrel.

The bolt D'has connected to it a cross-piece, H, the forward end of which carries the needle or hammer g, and the rear end forms a projection to catch the point of the mainspring m to contract it when the bolt and needle or hammer are drawn down or set upon a cock and it has also upon it shoulders l 2, on which the dog n catches to hold it atfhalf7 or whole cock, as the case may be.

vI is a lever pivoted at o to a hanger, J. The point p of this lever passes through a mortise in the bolt D, and then it bends around so as to form a guard for the trigger K. By pressing the lever I upward toward the stock, the bolt D and needle g are drawn down until the dog u takes into the notch l or 2, as the case may be, said dog being pressed forward into the notches by a springgg, behind it. Vhen the trigger K is drawn back, it draws the dog n from the notch or notches, (for the dog is forked, straddling the lever I, and takes into notches on both sides of the lever,) and allows the bolt D and needle or hammer r/ to fiy, the former locking the breech-block and the latter exploding the cap or primer.

1" is a stop to hold the trigger and prevent it from accidentally letting off the bolt and needle when the gun is at the cock.

The sight L is made adjustable for a short -or long range by means of notches 3 4 in the shank of the sight and a turning catch-piecc, s, on the barrel, that takes into said notches, and thus hold the sight at any fixed position.

The cartridge has a paper or other thin case, t, which covers the bullet u entirely; and at the heel of the cartridge there is a stiff paper,

or other wad, w, with a vhole through it for the fire to pass from the cap or primer to the powder o, and behind this-wad a thinner one, x, and a canvas back, y, the cap being held I in place by the two rearmost disks or wads, x y, which also confine the paper wrapping to the wad w.

Having thus fully described our invention, and trigger, for the -purpose of eoeking and what We claim therein as new, and desire to letting go said bolt and needle or hammer,

secure by Letters Patent, issubstantially as described.

' 1. The breech -bloek C, constructed, ar- VILLIAM MORGENSTERN. ranged, and operating 'substantially as herein EDVARD MORWITZ. described and represented.. Vitnesses:

2. The combination of the bolt and needle OTTO MAAss, or hammer with the meinspring, lever, dog, l G. G OLAIBORNE. 

